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GOLF; U.S.O.C. Board Supports Ward's Stance on Augusta

The United States Olympic Committee tonight gave its chief executive, Lloyd Ward, its support in his effort to help change the men-only membership policy of Augusta National Golf Club.

One member of the executive committee, Herb Perez, has publicly criticized Ward, who is African-American, for belonging to the club, which does not allow women as members. The club, the host of the Masters, has been the target of a campaign by the National Council of Women's Organizations to admit women.

Ward said recently in a letter to the women's group that he would work from the inside to change the policy at Augusta. In a statement, the executive committee said that it gave Ward its ''strong support'' because of his ''principled position on the issue and his commitment to the inclusion of women.''

''I've not been given any deadlines'' by the executive committee, ''and I haven't given any deadlines,'' Ward said. Responding to a question of how he can be the chief executive of the Olympic committee, which embraces inclusion, yet belong to a club that excludes women, he said: ''The world has limits and boundaries that include some people and exclude others. I've been the first in a lot of things and I use the idea of being first to help other people follow me. For me, progress is a journey.''

Ward said he did not include his membership in Augusta on the résumé he presented to the U.S.O.C. last year because ''I had no perception on why it would be important; it's just a golf club.''

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A version of this article appears in print on November 2, 2002, on Page D00003 of the National edition with the headline: GOLF; U.S.O.C. Board Supports Ward's Stance on Augusta. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe